As of Wednesday, we’re all under a “stay-home order” statewide for at least two weeks. It tops tonight’s quick recap of the day’s developments:

‘STAY-HOME’ ORDER: Gov. Inslee, in a 5:30 pm address (WSB coverage here), took pains to say it wasn’t a “shelter-in-place” order. The three main points:

Require every Washingtonian to stay home unless they need to pursue an essential activity.

Ban all gatherings for social, spiritual and recreational purposes.

Close all businesses except essential businesses.

So what IS an “essential business,” you ask? Here’s the list. And as for activities – going out for a walk or a run is “essential,” he stressed, but stay with members of your own household; the “stay-home order” does NOT mean you can’t leave your home, but the more time you spend there, the governor says, the safer you and others are.

NEWEST KING COUNTY NUMBERS: From today’s Seattle-King County Public Health news release:

Public Health—Seattle & King County is reporting the following confirmed cases and deaths due to COVID-19 through 11:59 p.m. on 3/22/20.

1170 confirmed cases (up 130 from yesterday)
87 confirmed deaths (up 12 from yesterday)
These additional deaths include:

A woman in his 70s, who died on 3/21
A man in his 70s, who died on 3/21 at EvergreenHealth
A man in his 80s who died on 3/22 at EvergreenHealth
A man in his 80s, who died on 3/22 at Swedish Issaquah
A woman in her 70s, who died on 3/22
A woman in her 90s. who died on 3/22
A man in his 70s, who died on 3/22
A woman in her 90s, who died on 3/22
A woman in her 60s, who died on 3/22 at Swedish Cherry Hill
A man in his 60s, who died on 3/21 at Swedish Cherry Hill
A man in his 60s who died on 3/22 at University of Washington Medical Center
A man in his 60s who died on 3/22 at Virginia Mason

Of the 87 deaths reported, 37 are confirmed to be associated with Life Care Center of Kirkland.

One week ago today, King County had 488 cases and 43 deaths.

STATEWIDE NUMBERS: Find them here.

WORLDWIDE NUMBERS: Find them here.

BOEING SUSPENDS PRODUCTION: Hours before the governor’s order, Boeing announced all Puget Sound production would be suspended for two weeks starting Wednesday; workers will be paid.

CONFUSED ABOUT PARKS? The city has a list of what’s open/what’s closed. Meantime, crews keep making the rounds:

Randy sent that photo (thank you!) of a crew picking up the stray toys at little-kid favorite Ercolini Park.

POSTAL DISTANCING: We share a letter carrier’s plea.

SOCIAL DISTANCING: We also shared what a reader came up with to ensure she’s far enough away.

MOTIVATIONAL ART: Thanks to Sheri for tonight’s parting pic:

INFO TO SHARE? westseattleblog@gmail.com or text/voice 206-293-6302 – thank you!

5:31 PM: Gov. Jay Inslee is speaking right now, for an address billed as outlining “enhanced strategies” for dealing with COVID-19. He’s announced a “stay-home order” that he says will result in the closure of more businesses. That doesn’t mean you can’t leave your house, he says. It “builds on” previous orders. He says that though he’s already asked people to stay home, not everyone is heeding the call. “This weapon, this distancing ourselves, is the only weapon we have against this virus.”

It’s in effect for “at least two weeks,” he says. “This does not mean you can’t go outside” for a walk or bike ride, or to go to work in an “essential” industry. But the order bans ALL social/spiritual/ recreational gatherings – no beach parties, no pick-up sports, no wedding or funeral gatherings. The order takes effect in 48 hours, he says. He says the definition of “essential” largely follows federal guidelines.”The media will continue to operate as well,” he adds after listing health, emergency, defense industries. For restaurants, to-go and delivery service CAN CONTINUE, he says.

Inslee says they expect people will voluntarily comply – but if they don’t, the order is enforceable by law. He says this is tough but “we want to get back to normal as soon as humanly possible … (to do that) we need to hit this hard.”

He urges people NOT to make a run on grocery stores. And he advises turning “to what gives you hope.” He also lauds health-care workers and emergency responders as heroes.

“This challenge is temporary,” he offers in reassurance. “Every Washingtonian needs to enlist in this tumultuous struggle … if we are to win.”

He offers the new slogan “stay home, stay healthy” again in closing. We’ll be looking for more details on the specifics and will add them here as we get them. Also, he has a media briefing at 6:15 pm and we’ll add any additional details that come from that.

6 PM: Here’s the governor’s writeup on Medium. Not seeing the actual text of the order yet.

6:16 PM: The media briefing with various state officials has begun. One clarification: This is NOT “shelter in place” – that’s a term “for hurricanes” or shootings, you SHOULD go outside, they stress, but it’s a “full suite of things that can be enforced by law.” They say they talked to many local officials around the state to come up with the list.

Q&A: How many people can you be outside with? Your household members. Not even with friends or neighbors unless you’re at least six feet apart. If you break any of these laws, it is a gross misdemeanor. Are construction workers “essential”? Those on the call said they’re not sure – definitely if you’re, say, building a new hospital, but otherwise, they’re checking.

Can the order be renewed after two weeks? Yes. What would lead to an end of the order? Factors such as, what are they seeing in case count? Average incubation is 5-6 days, but can be up to two weeks. Also, the stress on the health-care system, as they’re trying to “prevent it from being … so stressed that we can’t protect our health-care workers.” And – “how well people are heeding this warning.” Is it OK to drive somewhere, like to an out-of-town trail? Yes, but not with a group of people from outside your household. What about June brides? “I’m not going to tell June brides to start canceling … that one’s hard to call.”

6:58 PM: Briefing’s over. Here’s the list of “essential businesses.”

Governor Inslee “will address the public today to lay out enhanced strategies to mitigate the COVID-19 outbreak,” according to a media advisory we received. His speech is scheduled for 5:30 pm and will be livestreamed here; we’ll also carry the feed here, and will be on the media conference call afterward.

Today’s first major local announcement, public or private – Boeing will suspend all Puget Sound production for two weeks starting Wednesday (March 25th). Here’s the announcement. The company says employees who can’t work from home “will receive paid leave for the initial 10 working days of the suspension – double the company policy – which will provide coverage for the 14 calendar day suspension period.”

(WSB photo, West Seattle Junction post office)

Among the workers who don’t have the option of staying home to do their job … your U.S. Postal Service employees. Letter carriers, for example, are continuing to deliver, to houses, apartments, businesses, and other places, as always. One of your local letter carriers called us the other night, asking if we could share her request: Please allow your letter carriers to observe “social distancing.” Some residents, she said, are “coming right up to the door” to greet her as usual – but as we all have to remember, these are not “usual” times. “A lot of people don’t realize how serious this is all getting,”she said. She can’t necessarily disinfect every single thing before and after she touches it – “we’re touching so many things all day” – so please allow her to drop off the packages, put the mail in the box or slot, and move on, for your safety and hers. “I adore my people, I would do anything for them,” she said. “I’m not trying to be rude …” just trying to stay safe.

P.S. As for whether the mail itself can spread the virus – the latest USPS statement on COVID-19 was issued on Sunday. It reiterates “the CDC the World Health Organization, as well as the Surgeon General have indicated that there is currently no evidence that COVID-19 is being spread through the mail.”